Liturgy: “Things Hoped For”
Sometimes we hope for things for a long time, we wait, and we pray, and we continue to fix our eyes on the object of our desire, expectant and watchful. These times of waiting can be difficult, our hearts are set on these things we want, and yet no matter how much we yearn for them, how much we pursue them, we continue to wait.
What is the King’s Liturgy? King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This Week’s Lectionary Readings
Jeremiah 33:14-16
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
Psalm 25:1-9
This week’s liturgy is contributed by Kylie Willis, Christian formation coordinator:
How many of you have hoped for something? Waited expectantly, eagerly? Looking forward to the day when your hope became reality.
Sometimes we hope for things for a long time, we wait, and we pray, and we continue to fix our eyes on the object of our desire, expectant and watchful. These times of waiting can be difficult, our hearts are set on these things we want, and yet no matter how much we yearn for them, how much we pursue them, we continue to wait.
My husband, Joey, and I have been hoping to grow our family. For the past two years we have been trying to have a baby, and last year in December I thought that our hoping in this season was over, we discovered I was pregnant. Everything we had been praying for was coming to fruition. It was right before the holidays, and we had plans to reveal the pregnancy to our families on Christmas Day. The day before we flew home I had an appointment for my first sonogram. Halfway through the procedure the nurse went and got the doctor, after reviewing the images she very gently told me that the baby was in the wrong spot. Not only was it impossible for our baby to grow safely inside of me, but if I did not have emergency surgery the risks to me were life-threatening. We lost our sweet baby that day, it has been one of the most painful experiences I have ever gone through, and yet we continue to hold onto hope.
It has been a year since that day, we still do not have a baby, as far as I know I am currently not pregnant, but my hope has grown. It has gone beyond the desire for a family. Don’t get me wrong, that is still very much there, but I have gained new perspective in this season of waiting. Hope is an anticipation and expectation of life to come. There is a greater hope than the things of this world, and we were created to live for that hope above and beyond all others. These scriptures promise us something, they promise us an inheritance that is so much greater and so much richer than anything we could ask for or imagine. They promise us life in the presence of our King.
…“Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”… Revelation 21:3-5
Isn’t that life worth anticipating?
One day I will hopefully get to hold our baby in my arms, and how elated I will feel, how in awe. How thankful, how full of joy! It will make all the hoping and waiting worth it. The same is even more true regarding my standing in the presence of my King. How elated I will feel, how in awe. How thankful, how full of joy! It will make all the hoping and waiting worth it.